Improvement in fishing-torches



s. BARTHOLOMEW.

Fishing Torches.

Patented April 15, 1873.

IMPROVEMENT IN FISHING-TORCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,877, dated April 15, 1873 application filed March 7, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 'I, SETH BARTHOLOMEW, of Sturgis,'St. Joseph county, Michigan, have invented a new and useful Lamp, of which the following is a specification:

Nature and Objects of the Invention.

My invention relates to a new and useful lamp, torch, or fiambeau, adapted for out-ofdoor use, and especially designed for the use of persons engaged in the occupation of catching fish by night. My said lamp consists, essentially, of a cresset, in the form of a narrow, inverted, hollow cone, of cast or wrought iron, which is 'filled with fragments of brick or other porous and refractory mineral. This filling is kept saturated with gasoline or other combustible liquid, supplied to it in the desired quantity from a suitable elevated reservoir, through the medium of a pipe provided with a stop-cock 0r faucet. This cresset is surrounded by a series of inverted funnels, which operate to deflect the flame and to reflect the light downward, so as to effectually illuminate the surface of the water.

Spccific Description.

Figure l is a side elevation of a lamp. embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an axial section of the cresset, on a larger scale.

A is a perforated or foraminous funnelformed receptacle, constituting the cresset. It

may be composed ofeither cast or wroughtiron. The said cresset is traversed axially by a rod, B, which has a saucer-like lower termination, O, that constitutes the bottom of the cresset. The said rod is screw-threaded at top, to take a nut, D, which secures a cap or cover, E. The said cresset is filled with fragments F, of common brick. Attached to and surrounding the cresset are a series of inverted funnels or deflectors, .G. The cresset is upheld, and at the same time supplied with burningfluid, by a feed-pipe, H, which projects from a can or reservoir, I, having sockets J, that enable it to be hung upon a stake or any convenient projection. The feed-pipe H has a stop-cock or faucet, L. The reservoir I is supplied with burning-fluid through an opening in its top, closed by a lid or cap, M, and

' the reservoir,

on its side, next the lamp proper or cresset, is protected from excessive heat by means of a shield or screen, N, which may be composed of sheet metal, of wood, or other suitable material, and be attached to the outside of the reservoir, in the manner shown. That portion of the cresset which is interposed between the pipe H and the interior of the cresset operates as a screen or safety cut-off for the flame, which prevents the latter gaining access to the interior of the reservoir.

Operation.

The cresset A having been filled, as above, and the reservoir I having been charged with gasoline or other suitable burning-fluid, the apparatus is supported or suspended in the desired position, and the cock L opened. 'A match being now applied, the finely-separated fluid within the cresset takes fire and burns, as represented in Fig. 1. Should it be desired to lower or to extinguish the light, or to increase its brilliancy, the operator is enabled so to do by manipulating the cock L; thus, when it becomes necessary to replenish the flame can, by the above means, be lowered to a point below that which would involve danger; or the lamp may be entirely extinguished by simply closing the faucet; and the brick filling, being wholly non-combustible, will not smoulder, as Wick would, but will retain its full efflciency for instant service.

The above-described preferred form of my invention may be varied from in non-essen tial particulars. For example, the deflectors may be of less or greater number than in the present illustration, or may be omitted alt0- gether; the cresset and the reservoir may be separately supported, and may be connected by a flexible tube, or the cresset may be charged with burning-fluid by other means.

Claims.

I claim herein as new and of my invention- 1. The foraminous funnel or cresset A, adapted for holding broken brick, and having one or more deflectors, G, for the purpose set forth. I 2. The combination of the downwardly f UNITEnSTATEs PATENT QFFICE.

tapering and perforated shell A, axial rod B, ervoir, to deflect the flame and heated gases bottom 0, cap E, and nut D, constructed and out of contact with the latter.

arranged substantially as described, to con- In testimony of which invention I hereunto stitute a casing of the form represented, set my hand. adapted for the reception of broken brick or SETH BARTHOLOMEW. other suitable absorbent, to retain the oil. Attest:

3. The convex-faced shield N, interposed GEO. H. KNIGHT,

between the open lamp or oresset and the res- JONATHAN W. FLANDERS. 

